Electronic transaction card

ABSTRACT

An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional applicationSer. No. 11/063,291, by Narendra et al., filed Feb. 22, 2005, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and morespecifically to electronic devices that may perform transactions.

BACKGROUND

Magnetic cards have many purposes. Examples include credit cards, debitcards, stored value cards, identification cards, access entry cards, andthe like. Many of these cards have information stored in a magneticstripe in a static manner. For example, a credit card may have a creditcard number, a cardholder's name, and an issuing bank's name staticallyencoded in a magnetic strip. Likewise, an identification card or accessentry card may have statically encoded information that identifies anindividual or allows access to a controlled access area. When the cardis swiped through a magnetic card reader, the information is transferredto the magnetic card reader to perform a transaction, such as afinancial transaction or identification transaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B show intelligent electronic devices and electronictransaction cards;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an electronic transaction card;

FIG. 4 shows an electronic transaction card in a magnetic card reader;

FIG. 5 shows an intelligent electronic device and card in a card reader;

FIGS. 6-8 show adapters for use with electronic transaction cards;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an electronic transaction card having a smartcardinterface;

FIG. 11 shows an adapter in combination with an electronic transactioncard;

FIG. 12 shows an adapter having an aperture to receive an electronictransaction card;

FIG. 13 shows another adapter embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows an electronic transaction card;

FIG. 15 shows an electronic transaction card and adapter combination;

FIG. 16 shows an example swallow-type card reader;

FIG. 17 shows a combination electronic transaction card and adapterbeing swiped through a magnetic card reader;

FIG. 18 shows a financial transaction card;

FIG. 19 shows a memory card;

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card andelectronic transaction card;

FIG. 21 shows a diagram of how a card may be utilized;

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card andelectronic transaction card; and

FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of a phone and a card.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, variousembodiments of an invention. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of theinvention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive.For example, a particular feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with one embodiment may be implemented withinother embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. In addition, it is to be understood that the location orarrangement of individual elements within each disclosed embodiment maybe modified without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention isdefined only by the appended claims, appropriately interpreted, alongwith the full range of equivalents to which the claims are entitled. Inthe drawings, like numerals refer to the same or similar functionalitythroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 shows an intelligent electronic device and an electronictransaction card. Intelligent electronic device 102 is shown as a mobilephone in FIG. 1, but this is not a limitation of the present invention.For example, intelligent electronic device 102 may be a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a smartphone, a mobile phone, a handheld computer, orany other device capable of operating as described herein.

Intelligent electronic device 102 includes add-on slot 110. Add-on slot110 is a slot capable of accepting electronic transaction card 104. Forexample, add-on slot 110 may have physical dimensions compatible withelectronic transaction card 104, and may have a communications interfacethat operates using a protocol compatible with electronic transactioncard 104. In some embodiments, electronic transaction card 104 includesan identification number that provides a relationship to intelligentelectronic device 102. For example, electronic transaction card 104 mayinclude an ID number that provides a unique pairing relationship or anon-unique pairing relationship between electronic transaction card 104and intelligent electronic device 102.

In some embodiments of the present invention, add-on slot 110 is amemory card slot designed to accept and communicate with memory cards.As used herein, the term “memory card slot” refers to any add-on slotcapable of accepting a card having memory accessible by an intelligentelectronic device such as that shown in FIG. 1. For example, a memorycard slot may be a proprietary card slot designed to accept memory cardsthat adhere to a proprietary communications protocol. Also for example,a memory card slot may be compatible with an industry standardcommunications protocol, or may be compatible with a widely acceptedcommunications protocol that is not necessarily formally documented asan industry standard. Examples include slots that are compatible withthe Multimedia Memory Card (MMC) protocol, Memory Stick DUO protocol,secure digital (SD) protocol, and Smart Media protocol. The foregoinglist is meant to be exemplary, and not exhaustive. Add-on slot 110 maybe compatible with many memory card slot protocols other than thoseexplicitly listed above without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Electronic transaction card 104 includes electrical contacts 108 andstripe 106. Electrical contacts 108 are contacts that provide acommunications interface to communicate with add-on slot 110. Forexample, electrical contacts 108 may provide connectivity compliant witha communications protocol for memory cards.

Stripe 106 represents an area on an external face of electronictransaction card 104 at which one or more time-varying magnetic fieldsemanate. For example, one or more time-varying magnetic fields mayemanate from the location of stripe 106 to communicate with a magneticcard reader. In some embodiments, the time-varying magnetic field mayemulate the time-varying magnetic field produced when a typical magneticcard is swiped through a magnetic card reader. For example, atime-varying magnetic field produced at stripe 106 may emulate the swipeof a credit card, a debit card, or any other card having a magneticstripe compatible with a magnetic card reader.

In some embodiments of the present invention, stripe 106 may be avisible stripe on electronic transaction card 104. When stripe 106 isvisible, it may be used to indicate the location at which thetime-varying magnetic field will emanate. In other embodiments of thepresent invention, stripe 106 may not be visible. For example, circuitrymay be included within electronic transaction card 106 to produce thetime-varying magnetic field and no visible indication may be present onan external face of electronic transaction card 104.

As used herein, the term “stripe” generally refers to a location on anelectronic transaction card, whether a visible stripe exists or not. Inthis description, the term “stripe” may also be used to refer to avisible marking on a face of an electronic transaction card. Further, a“stripe” may include the functionality provided by one or moretime-varying magnetic fields that emanate from the card. For example,the term “stripe” may refer to multiple magnetic tracks, or multiple“stripes,” or emulation thereof.

Stripes, as described herein, may be compatible with one or morestandards. A stripe may be compatible with a standard by being incompliance with the standard or by being partially in compliance withthe standard. For example, stripe 106 may be compatible with an AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI) magnetic stripe standard, or anInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) magnetic stripestandard. In addition, in some embodiments, a stripe may emulate morethan one magnetic track, and the emulated tracks may or may not beoffset from the location specified in a standard. For example, one ormore wires may be utilized to generate time-varying magnetic fieldscompatible with a standard, and the wires may be located at or nearstripe 106 in a location different than the magnetic track offsetdescribed in an associated standard.

As used herein, the term “transaction” refers to any beneficial use ofan electronic transaction card. For example, any time stripe 106 emits atime-varying magnetic field to be read by a magnetic card reader or ahybrid smartcard reader, a transaction may take place. Transactions mayinclude financial transactions, access control transactions, or anyother type of transaction involving any of the electronic transactioncard embodiments described herein. Further, as described in more detailbelow, in some embodiments of the present invention, transactions mayutilize smartcard interfaces on electronic transaction cards in additionto, or in lieu of, stripes that emit time-varying magnetic fields.

In operation, intelligent electronic device 102 may program electronictransaction card 104 for use in a transaction involving stripe 106. Forexample, intelligent electronic device 102 may program electronictransaction card 104 to operate as a credit card, a debit card, or thelike. Electronic transaction card 104 may then be used with a magneticstripe or smartcard based merchant point-of-sale terminal to effect atransaction. Also for example, intelligent electronic device 102 mayprogram electronic transaction card 104 to operate in any otherenvironment where stripe 106 may be beneficially utilized with amagnetic card reader.

FIG. 2A shows intelligent electronic device 202 and electronictransaction card 220. Intelligent electronic device 202 includes add-onslot 210 to receive electronic transaction card 220. Intelligentelectronic device 202 is shown having add-on slot on one side, but thisis not a limitation of the present invention. For example, add-on slot210 may be located on top, bottom, or any other surface of intelligentelectronic device 202. Also for example, an add-on slot may be createdby a clamshell design when the shell is closed. In these embodiments,each side of the clamshell may incorporate a portion of the add-on slotsuch that the add-on slot is “open” when the clamshell is open.

Electronic transaction card 220 may have any form factor compliant withadd-on slot 210. Electronic transaction card 220 is shown having a formfactor with an aspect ratio different from that of electronictransaction card 104 (FIG. 1). Electronic transaction card 220 includesstripe 222 and may have electrical contacts to interface with add-onslot 210. The electrical contacts may be on the back side of electronictransaction card 220, recessed on an edge of electronic transaction card220, or on the front side of electronic transaction card 220. In someembodiments, electronic transaction card 220 includes a “contactless”interface to add-on slot 210. For example, electronic transaction card220 may include an interface to add-on slot 210 that communicates usingelectric or magnetic fields, infrared (IR) light, or any other suitablecommunications mechanism.

Electronic transaction card 220 may have an area for imprinting. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 2A, electronic transaction card 220 may havespace for imprinting a brand (for a bank or otherwise), and acardholder's name. Further, electronic transaction card 220 may includespace for a cardholder's signature. Electronic transaction card 220 mayinclude any other information, coded or unencoded, visible ornonvisible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Intelligent electronic device 202 may include a mechanism to allowintelligent electronic device 202 to communicate with a wired orwireless network. For example, intelligent electronic device 202 mayinclude circuitry to communicate with a cellular phone network. Notethat in these embodiments, intelligent electronic device 202 may or maynot be a phone. For example, intelligent electronic device 202 may be acellular telephone with an add-on slot for use with an electronictransaction card. Also for example, intelligent electronic device may bea non-telephonic device that has cellular network connectivity. Examplesinclude personal digital assistants, and handheld devices dedicated tothe use of electronic transaction cards. Further, intelligent electronicdevice 202 may be a non-telephonic device having wired or wirelessconnectivity to a network other than a cellular network, and in someembodiments, intelligent electronic device 202 may be a device withoutnetwork connectivity. Examples include, but are not limited to:Blackberry devices available from Research in Motion (RIM), musicplayers such as MP3 players, cameras, and the like.

In operation, intelligent electronic device 202 may program electronictransaction card to perform a transaction. In some embodiments,communications over a network may play a role in the transaction. Forexample, intelligent electronic device 202 may receive authorization forthe transaction over a network. Also for example, intelligent electronicdevice 202 may program electronic transaction card 220 to perform atransaction, and then report the transaction to an entity using thenetwork.

Electronic transaction card 220 may be utilized in financialtransactions. For example, electronic transaction card 220 may beprogrammed to operate as a credit card or a stored value card. In theseembodiments, electronic transaction card 220 may be programmed to emitone or more time-varying magnetic fields to emulate the swiping of acredit card or stored value card. In some of these embodiments,electronic transaction card 220 may use one number repeatedly, or mayuse a different number for each transaction. For example, electronictransaction card 220 may be programmed to have one number, similar tohow a credit card uses the same number repeatedly. Also for example,electronic transaction card 220 may be programmed to use a differentnumber for each transaction. These numbers are referred to herein as“single transaction account numbers” or “STANs.”

Single transaction account numbers may be generated by the card issueror locally by either an intelligent electronic device or an electronictransaction card. Generation of STANs may be accomplished in any ofseveral ways. For example, when an electronic transaction card isissued, the cardholder may receive several pre-assigned single-usetransaction numbers. The numbers may also have a pre-specified sequence.In some embodiments, this sequence may be known only to the issuing bankand the cardholder's intelligent electronic device and/or electronictransaction card. A card issuing bank may authorize payments based onthe expected sequence of account numbers, and if out-of-sequence accountnumbers are used, then the issuing bank may consider that transaction asa potentially fraudulent transaction. The issuing bank may also use thisfeature to track the merchant involved in the potentially fraudulenttransaction.

According to another example, a pre-assigned sequence of STANs may bereset to the original starting number on the list depending on userinput or other triggers. In addition, the list of numbers may beperiodically downloaded via a cellular phone network or other networkconnectivity.

FIG. 2B shows intelligent electronic device 230 and electronictransaction card 240. Intelligent electronic device 230 is an example ofa “wearable” device that is capable of communicating with an electronictransaction card. For example, intelligent electronic device 230 isshown having the form factor of a wristwatch. Some embodiments of thepresent invention may have other wearable form factors. For example, awearable intelligent electronic device may be worn in such a manner thatit contacts human skin, or it may be worn on clothing. Any wearableintelligent electronic device may be employed without departing from thescope of the present invention. Further, intelligent electronic device230 may have any of the capabilities described herein.

Intelligent electronic device 230 may include an add-on slot to acceptelectronic transaction card 230. The add-on slot may be any of theadd-on slot embodiments described herein. Electronic transaction card240 may be any electronic transaction card. For example, electronictransaction card 240 may be any electronic transaction card embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an electronic transaction card.Electronic transaction card 300 is an electronic transaction cardcapable of communicating with an intelligent electronic device, andcapable of communicating with a magnetic card reader. For example,electronic transaction card 300 may be electronic transaction card 104(FIG. 1) or electronic transaction card 220 (FIG. 2A).

Electronic transaction card 300 includes electrical contacts 302,intelligent electronic device (IED) interface 304, nonvolatile memory306, processing device 308, volatile memory 310, magnetic fieldproducing circuits 312, swipe sensor 314, and stripe 320.

Electrical contacts 302 correspond to electrical contacts 108 (FIG. 1).IED interface 304 is coupled to electrical contacts 302 to provide acommunications interface between electronic transaction card 300 and anintelligent electronic device. For example, IED interface 304 may be aninterface compatible with an add-on slot such as add-on slot 110(FIG. 1) or add-on slot 210 (FIG. 2A).

Magnetic field producing circuit 312 includes one or more circuits toproduce time-varying magnetic fields at or near the location of stripe320. For example, one or more current carrying conductors may be excitedto produce a magnetic field, and the current may be varied in amplitudeand reversed in polarity to cause the magnetic field to be time-varying.In some embodiments, the number of magnetic field producing circuitscorresponds to the number of tracks being emulated for stripe 320. Forexample, stripe 320 may emulate two, three, four, or more magnetictracks on a magnetic card such as a credit card. In these embodiments,electronic transaction card 300 may include two, three, four, or moremagnetic field producing circuits 312. Magnetic field producing circuits312 may also include circuits to allow control of the time-varyingmagnetic field. For example, magnetic field producing circuits 312 mayinclude voltage drivers, current drivers, registers to hold digitaldata, sequential circuits to translate the digital data to magneticfields, and the like.

Swipe sensor 314 senses when electronic transaction card 300 has beenswiped in a magnetic card reader, and provides a swipe indication toprocessing device 308. The swipe sensor may be a mechanical switch, anelectronic switch, or any other type of suitable switch. For example, amechanical switch may get pressed when electronic transaction card 300is swiped. Also for example, an electrical sensor may include two ormore contacts (not shown) that get shorted when swiped past a metal headwithin a card reader. Further, a Hall effect sensor or light-basedsensor may be utilized. The present invention is not limited by the typeof swipe sensor utilized. In some embodiments, swipe sensor 314 isomitted.

Processing device 308 represents a processor capable of communicatingwith the other blocks shown in electronic transaction card 300. Forexample, processing device 308 may be a microprocessor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a microcontroller, or the like. Further, processingdevice 308 may be formed from state machines or other sequential logic.In operation, processing device 308 may read instructions from volatilememory 310 and/or nonvolatile memory 306 and perform actions in responsethereto. For example, processing device 308 may execute programinstructions that influence communications between electronictransaction card 300 and an intelligent electronic device, or betweenelectronic transaction card 300 and a magnetic card reader.

Volatile memory 310 represents memory that may lose its state when poweris removed from electronic transaction card 300. For example, volatilememory 310 may be static random access memory (SRAM). Volatile memory308 may be utilized by processing device 308 when executing programs.For example, a program may be copied into volatile memory 308 prior toexecution. Also for example, processing device 308 may use volatilememory 308 to store data during the execution of a program.

Nonvolatile memory 306 represents memory that does not lose its statewhen power is removed from electronic transaction card 300. Nonvolatilememory 306 may be any suitable type of memory such as Flash memory withfloating gate transistor memory cells. Examples include NOR Flashmemory, NAND Flash memory, and multibit/cell Flash memory.

Nonvolatile memory 306 may hold program instructions that are executableby processing device 308. For example, prior to being sold, amanufacturer or distributor may program nonvolatile memory 306 withprogram information to influence the operation of electronic transactioncard 300. Also for example, an intelligent electronic device may provideprogram information to electronic transaction card 300 through IEDinterface 304.

Nonvolatile memory 306 may also hold program instructions that areexecutable by a processing device other than processing device 308. Forexample, a manufacturer, distributor, reseller, or other participant inthe chain of commerce may program nonvolatile memory 306 with programinformation to be transferred to an intelligent electronic device.Information to be transferred may include device drivers, applicationsoftware, or the like.

Electronic transaction card 300 may include one or more power sources(not shown). For example, electronic transaction card 300 may include abattery or a capacitor such as a supercapacitor. In some embodiments, arechargeable battery may be included. The rechargeable battery mayaccept a charge from an add-on slot in an intelligent electronic device.In some embodiments, a capacitor may accept a charge from an intelligentelectronic device. The capacitor may provide power to electronictransaction card 300 for enough time to perform a transaction. Further,the capacitor may be sized to ensure that a transaction may only beperformed during a limited time period after removing the electronictransaction card from an add-on slot, thereby ensuring that a stolencard may not be used repeatedly without the cardholder's consent. Alsoin some embodiments, electronic transaction card 300 may be programmedto go dormant if a transaction is not performed within a limited timeperiod after removing the card from an intelligent electronic device.

Electronic transaction card 300 may include one or more integratedcircuits. For example, processing device 308 may be on one integratedcircuit die, and the memories may be on another integrated circuit die.In some embodiments, all active devices are included on a singleintegrated circuit die. In some embodiments, various integrated circuitdice are mounted on a common substrate to provide a high level ofintegration using separate dice. Any amount of circuit integration maybe practiced without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Electronic transaction card 300 has dimensions “a” and “b.” In someembodiments of the present invention, stripe 320 has a length that issubstantially equal to a, and in some embodiments, stripe 320 has alength less than a. Further, in some embodiments, a is less than thestripe length of a standard credit card (approximately three and threeeighths inches), and in some embodiments, a is much less than the stripelength of a standard credit card. For example, in some embodiments, a isless than 75% the length of a standard credit card stripe. Further, insome embodiments, a is less than 50% the length of a standard creditcard stripe. In still further embodiments, a is less than 25% the lengthof a standard credit card stripe.

In some embodiments, dimensions a and b are substantially equal to thedimensions of a memory card. For example, dimensions a and b may conformto the dimensions of an MMC memory card, a Memory Stick PRO DUO memorycard, or other memory card. Further, in some embodiments, electronictransaction card 300 has a thickness compatible with a magnetic cardreader.

FIG. 4 shows an electronic transaction card and a card reader.Electronic transaction card 410 is a card having a stripe compatiblewith a magnetic card reader. For example, electronic transaction card410 may be electronic transaction card 104 (FIG. 1), electronictransaction card 220 (FIG. 2A), electronic transaction card 300 (FIG.3), or any other electronic transaction card described herein. Magneticcard reader 420 is a card reader compatible with magnetic cards. Forexample, magnetic card reader 420 may operate as part of a merchantpoint-of-sale terminal, an access control device, or the like. When amagnetic card is swiped through magnetic card reader 420, one or moretime-varying magnetic fields are produced relative to the location of amagnetic read head (not shown) in magnetic card reader 420.

In the operation depicted in FIG. 4, electronic transaction card 410 isswiped through magnetic card reader 420. During the swiping operation,electronic transaction card 420 produces one or more time-varyingmagnetic fields to emulate the swiping of a magnetic card. For example,a swipe sensor within electronic transaction card 410 may detect theswiping action depicted in FIG. 4, and a magnetic field producingcircuit may generate one or more time-varying magnetic fields aselectronic transaction card 410 passes by a magnetic read head inmagnetic card reader 420.

FIG. 5 shows an intelligent electronic device, an electronic transactioncard, and a magnetic card reader. Electronic transaction card 510 isshown being swiped through magnetic card reader 520 while attached tointelligent electronic device 500. The operation depicted in FIG. 5represents a transaction occurring while electronic transaction card 510is coupled to an add-on slot of intelligent electronic device 500.

FIG. 6 shows an adapter for use with an electronic transaction card.Adapter 600 includes a body portion having dimensions “w” and “l”, and areceiving portion shown at 610. Adapter 600 is useful to receive anelectronic transaction card at receiving portion 610 to provide a largercard having the functionality of an electronic transaction card. Forexample, in some embodiments of the present invention, dimensions w andl are compatible with swallow-type magnetic card readers, and acombination of adapter 600 an electronic transaction card may becompatible with such readers.

Receiving portion 610 may include an interface compatible with aconnector on an electronic transaction card. For example, an electronictransaction card may have an interface that is compatible with both anadd-on slot of an electronic transaction device and receiving portion610 of adapter 600.

FIG. 7 shows adapter 600 having an electronic transaction card 710coupled thereto. Electronic transaction card 710 includes a stripecapable of emitting one or more time-varying magnetic fields asdescribed above. The combination of electronic transaction card 710 andadapter 600 allow the functionality of electronic transaction card 710to be useful in the larger form factor of adapter 600.

In some embodiments, adapter 600 includes active or passive circuitry insupport of the operation of electronic transaction card 710. Forexample, adapter 600 may include electrical contacts, a battery, anintegrated circuit, or other circuits. Also for example, adapter 600 mayinclude one or more swipe sensors to provide a swiping indication toelectronic transaction card 710.

FIG. 8 shows an adapter having a smartcard interface 810. In embodimentsrepresented by FIG. 8, an adapter may be utilized to perform atransaction involving a smartcard reader while utilizing an electronictransaction card. For example, an electronic transaction card may becoupled to adapter 800 at receiving portion 820, and the electronictransaction card may provide data useful for a smartcard transaction.

FIG. 9 shows an electronic transaction card having a smartcardinterface. Electronic transaction card 900 includes electrical contacts908 and 910. Electrical contacts 908 are similar to electrical contacts108 (FIG. 1). For example, electrical contacts 908 may be compatiblewith an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device such asintelligent electronic device 102 (FIG. 1). Electrical contacts 910 arearranged to provide the communications interface to a smartcard reader.

In some embodiments, electronic transaction card 900 includes asmartcard interface as well as a stripe to produce the time-varyingmagnetic field. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the backside ofelectronic transaction card 900 may include stripe 1010. The variouselectronic transaction cards described herein may include a stripe, asmartcard interface, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 11 shows an adapter in combination with an electronic transactioncard. Adapter 1100 is shown having electronic transaction card 900coupled in a recessed portion on a side having dimension w. In someembodiments, this configuration places electrical contacts 910 at alocation expected by smartcard readers.

FIG. 12 shows an adapter having an aperture to receive an electronictransaction card. Adapter 1200 includes aperture 1210 to receive anelectronic transaction card. In some embodiments, aperture 1210 passescompletely through adapter 1200, and in other embodiments, aperture 1210is a recessed portion on the face of adapter 1200. Adapter 1200 mayreceive electronic transaction cards having a stripe, a smartcardinterface, or a combination of the two.

FIG. 13 shows and adapter having a body portion 1300, a recessed portion1310, and stripe 1320. Recessed portion 1310 may receive an electronictransaction card as described above with respect to FIGS. 6-7. Further,stripe 1320 may be utilized to communicate with a magnetic card reader.For example, adapter 1300 may include a magnetic field producing circuitsuch as magnetic field producing circuit 312 (FIG. 3) to produce atime-varying magnetic field. In operation, an electronic transactioncard may be coupled to adapter 1300 at recessed portion 1310, andprovide transaction information to be used by stripe 1320 for atransaction with a magnetic card reader. In some embodiments, anelectronic transaction card having neither a stripe nor a smartcardinterface may be coupled to adapter 1300 at recessed portion 1310 toeffect a transaction using stripe 1320.

The various adapters shown in the previous figures may have recessedportions, apertures, or stripes anywhere on the adapter withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example, in someembodiments, a recessed portion may be on the side of the adapter havinga smaller dimension, and in other embodiments a recessed portion may beon the side of the adapter having a larger dimension. Also for example,in some embodiments, a stripe may be on the side of the adapter having asmaller dimension, and in other embodiments a stripe may be on the sideof the adapter having a larger dimension.

FIG. 14 shows an electronic transaction card. Electronic transactioncard 1400 includes stripe 1410 and add-on slot compatible portion 1402.Add-on slot compatible portion 1402 includes electrical contacts 1408 tocommunicate with an add-on slot in an intelligent electronic device. Forexample, add-on slot compatible portion 1402 may be physically andelectrically compatible with add-on slot 110 (FIG. 1) or add-on slot 210(FIG. 2A).

Electronic transaction card 1400 may include any of the circuits,features, or functionality described herein. For example, electronictransaction card 1400 may include magnetic field producing circuits,swipe sensors, processing devices, volatile and nonvolatile memory,various interfaces, and electrical contacts.

Electronic transaction card 1400 is shown having stripe 1410 along anedge having dimension “l.” In some embodiments, electronic transactioncard 1400 may have stripe 1410 along an edge other than that shown inFIG. 14.

In operation, electronic transaction card 1400 may be left coupled to anelectronic transaction device when being swiped through a magnetic cardreader, similar to the operation shown in FIG. 5. Further, electronictransaction card 1400 may be removed from an intelligent electronicdevice prior to being swept through a magnetic card reader, similar tothe operation shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 15 shows an electronic transaction card and an adapter incombination. The combination of electronic transaction card 1400 andadapter 1500 form a card having dimensions “w” and “l” as describedabove with reference to previous figures. The resulting card may besuitable for swallow-type magnetic card readers.

FIG. 16 shows a combination electronic transaction card and adapter 1610being inserted into a swallow-type magnetic card reader. As shown inFIG. 16, the swallow-type magnetic card reader is part of an automatedteller machine (ATM), but this is not a limitation of the presentinvention. For example, the swallow-type reader may be part of apoint-of-sale device, an access entry device, or any other type ofdevice capable of incorporating a swallow-type magnetic card reader.

FIG. 17 shows a combination electronic transaction card and adapterbeing swiped through a magnetic card reader. Adapter 1710 and electronictransaction card 1720 are shown being swiped through magnetic cardreader 1730. Electronic transaction card 1720 maybe any of theelectronic transaction card embodiments described herein. For example,electronic transaction card 1720 may include a stripe, a smartcardinterface, or a combination of the two. Although adapter 1710 is shownas an adapter having a recessed portion on one side, the combinationadapter/card in FIG. 17 represents any of the adapter/card combinationsdescribed herein. For example, adapter 1710 may be any of adapters 600(FIGS. 6,7), adapter 800 (FIG. 8), adapter 1100 (FIG. 11), adapter 1200(FIG. 12), adapter 1300 (FIG. 13), or adapter 1500 (FIG. 15).

FIG. 18 shows a financial transaction card. Financial transaction card1800 includes stripe 1802, financial card circuits 1804, memory cardemulation circuitry 1806, and memory card compatible interface 1808.Financial transaction card 1800 is an example of a financial card thatmight be issued by a bank or other financial institution. For example,financial transaction card 1800 might be a debit card, a credit card, astored value card, or other card issued for the purposes of financialtransactions.

Financial card circuits 1804 interact with stripe 1802 to producetime-varying magnetic fields compatible with a magnetic card reader. Forexample, financial card circuits 1804 and stripe 1802 may providefinancial transaction data to a point-of-sale terminal. Financialtransaction card 1800 also includes memory card emulation circuitry 1806to emulate the operation of a memory card. The combination of memorycard emulation circuitry 1806 and memory card compatible interface 1808allow financial transaction card 1800 to perform as a memory card. Forexample, memory card compatible interface 1808 may be compatible with amemory card interface in an add-on slot of an intelligent electronicdevice.

FIG. 19 shows a memory card. Memory card 1900 includes memory cardcompatible interface 1930, memory card circuits 1920, financial cardemulation circuitry 1910, and stripe 1902. Memory card 1900 is anexample of a card that may be fabricated and sold by a memory cardmanufacturer or a manufacturer that is in the business of sellingelectronic peripheral devices. By including financial card emulationcircuitry 1910 and stripe 1902 in memory card 1900, the manufacturer ofmemory card 1900 may add features desired by consumers. For example, thecombination of stripe 1902 and financial card emulation circuitry 1910may emulate the operation of a financial card such as a credit card,debit card, stored value card, or the like.

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card andelectronic transaction card. Card 2000 includes memory 2010, processingelement 2020, magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030, card reader interface2040, memory card circuitry 2050, and memory card slot compatibleinterface 2060. Processing element 2020 may be any processing elementsuitable to communicate with memory 2010 and the other blocks shown inFIG. 20. Magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030 may include circuits toproduce time-varying magnetic fields or signals compatible with a smartcard reader. Card reader interface 2040 may include a stripe asdescribed above, or may include electrical contacts compatible with asmartcard reader. Memory card circuitry 2050 may be any type of memorycircuitry accessible by an intelligent electronic device. Theintelligent electronic device may access memory card circuitry 2050through memory card slot compatible interface 2060.

Memory 2010 is shown having card software 2012 and application software2014. In some embodiments, card 2000 is sold or distributed having bothcard software 2012 and application software 2014 in memory 2010. Forexample, memory 2010 may be nonvolatile memory having card software 2012for execution by processing element 2020. Also for example, memory 2010may have application software 2014 meant to be installed on a deviceother than card 2000. Application software 2014 may include drivers,user interface software, single transaction account number (STAN)generation software, or any other software that may be installed on adevice other than card 2000.

Application software 2014 may operate in any of multiple languages onmultiple operating systems. For example, application software 2014 mayprovide a user interface in any regional language. Also for example,application software 2014 may run on any operating system (OS).

FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of how card 2000 (FIG. 20) may beutilized. A card issuer 2110 may issue card 2000 to a cardholder 2130.As issued by card issuer 2110, card 2000 may include card software andapplication software as shown in FIG. 21. Cardholder 2130 may couplecard 2000 with intelligent electronic device 2140 and installapplication software on the intelligent electronic device. For example,intelligent electronic device 2140 may be a mobile phone capable ofexecuting application software, and card 2000 may supply applicationsoftware to be installed on the mobile phone. Also for example,intelligent electronic device 2140 may be a non-telephonic device suchas a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other dedicated hardware,capable of receiving card 2000 in an add-on slot.

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card andelectronic transaction card. Card 2200 includes processing element 2020,magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030, card reader interface 2040, memorycard circuitry 2050, and memory card slot compatible interface 2060, allof which are described above with reference to FIG. 20. Card 2200 alsoincludes nonvolatile memory 2210 and volatile memory 2220. As shown inFIG. 22, nonvolatile memory 2210 includes card software 2212 to beexecuted by processing element 2020. Also as shown in FIG. 22, card 2200includes volatile memory 2220 having financial transaction data 2222held therein. Financial transaction data 2222 may be programmed intovolatile memory 2220 by processing alignment 2020 in response tocommunications from an intelligent electronic device coupled to memorycard slot compatible interface 2060. For example, a mobile phoneexecuting single transaction account number generation software mayprovide a single transaction account number as financial transactiondata that gets stored in volatile memory 2220 in preparation for atransaction. In other embodiments, financial transaction data 2222represents two, three, four, or more time-varying magnetic fields to begenerated by the combination of magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030 andcard reader interface 2040.

FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of a phone and a card. Phone 2310 may be acellular telephone, and card 2350 may be any of the electronictransaction card embodiments described herein. Phone 2310 includesdisplay 2312, processor 2314, single transaction account number (STAN)generation software 2316, and authentication software 2318. Card 2350includes processor 2352, card software 2354, financial transaction data2356, and point-of-sale (POS) interface 2358.

Single transaction account number generation software 2316 may beinstalled on the phone 2310 when card 2350 is inserted in a memory slot.For example, referring now back to FIGS. 20 and 21, STAN generationsoftware 2316 may correspond to application software 2014.Authentication software 2318 may only allow authorized users access tophone 2310 and/or card 2350.

In operation, a user interacting with phone 2310 may gain access tofeatures by satisfying requirements of authentication software 2318.Using STAN generation software 2316, a user may generate financialtransaction data 2356 which is held on card 2350 in preparation for atransaction. Card 2350 may then interact with a card reader usingpoint-of-sale interface 2358 to effect a transaction. This transactionmay be effected with card 2350 coupled to phone 2310 or decoupled fromphone 2310. Further, the transaction using card 2350 may be effectedwhile card 2350 is coupled to any of the adapter embodiments describedherein.

The following paragraphs provide further disclosure of various inventionembodiments. Each embodiment is fully defined by the recitation of thecorresponding paragraph, and no other elements are to be consideredessential for that particular embodiment. The embodiments include:

A. An apparatus comprising:

a stripe to communicate with a magnetic card reader; and

an interface to communicate with an intelligent electronic device;

wherein the apparatus has dimensions smaller than a credit card.

A1. The apparatus of A wherein the stripe includes circuitry to produceat least one time-varying magnetic field.A2. The apparatus of A wherein the interface is compatible with anadd-on slot in the intelligent electronic device.A3. The apparatus of A2 wherein the interface comprises a memory cardinterface.A4. The apparatus of A further comprising a processing element coupledto the interface and to the stripe.A5. The apparatus of A4 further comprising a memory element to holdprogramming information for the stripe.A6. The apparatus of A4 further comprising an embedded swipe sensor tosense when the stripe is swiped through a magnetic card reader.A7. The apparatus of A further comprising nonvolatile memory accessibleby the intelligent electronic device.B. A financial card comprising:

a point-of-sale compatible electronic transaction stripe;

a memory card compatible interface; and

memory card emulation circuitry coupled to the memory card compatibleinterface.

C. A memory card comprising:

a memory card compatible interface;

a point-of-sale compatible electronic transaction stripe; and

financial card emulation circuitry coupled to the point-of-salecompatible electronic transaction stripe.

D. A financial card apparatus comprising:

a point-of-sale compatible portion having a stripe to communicate with apoint-of-sale transaction device; and

a memory card compatible portion having at least one electrical contactto communicate with a memory card slot in an intelligent electronicdevice.

E. A memory card comprising:

a memory card interface operable to couple the memory card to anintelligent electronic device;

a nonvolatile memory device accessible through the memory cardinterface; and

a stripe operable to communicate with a magnetic card reader.

F. A memory card comprising:

a memory card slot interface; and

circuitry for producing a time-varying magnetic field compatible with amagnetic card reader.

F1. The memory card of F wherein the circuitry is configured to producea plurality of time-varying magnetic fields compatible with apoint-of-sale transaction device.G. An apparatus comprising:

means for communicating through a memory card slot in an intelligentelectronic device;

means for producing at least one time-varying magnetic field torepresent financial transaction data; and

means for storing the financial transaction data.

H. A card comprising:

a memory card compatible interface;

a smartcard compatible interface; and

a stripe to produce at least one time-varying magnetic field compatiblewith a magnetic card reader.

I. A memory card compatible with a memory card slot in a mobile phone,the memory card including nonvolatile memory accessible by the mobilephone, a point-of-sale interface to communicate with a point-of-saleterminal, and volatile memory to hold financial transaction data.

I1. The memory card of I wherein the point-of-sale interface comprisescircuitry to produce at least one time-varying magnetic field.

I2. The memory card of I1 further including a processing device coupledto the nonvolatile memory, volatile memory, and point-of-sale interface.

J. An electronic financial transaction device having a thicknesscompatible with a point-of-sale card reader, a width less than a creditcard width, a length less than a credit card length, an electronicallyprogrammable stripe situated along the length, and at least oneelectrical contact to provide an interface to an intelligent electronicdevice.J1. The electronic financial transaction device of J wherein the atleast one electrical contact comprises a memory card interfacecompatible with a memory card slot in the intelligent electronic device.J2. The electronic financial transaction device of J wherein theelectronically programmable stripe includes a circuit to emulate amagnetic stripe in a credit card.J3. The electronic financial transaction device of J2 further comprisinga swipe sensor to detect when the electronic financial device is swipedthrough a point-of-sale terminal.K. A card comprising:

means for storing financial transaction data;

means for communicating with a memory card slot in an intelligentelectronic device; and

means for creating a time-varying magnetic field that represents thefinancial transaction data.

K1. The card of K wherein the means for storing financial transactiondata comprises volatile memory.K2. The card of K wherein the financial transaction data comprises asingle transaction account number.K3. The card of K further comprising a processing device coupled to readthe financial transaction data and influence the operation of the meansfor creating a time-varying magnetic field.L. An adapter for use with any of A-K, the adapter comprising:

a body portion having exterior dimensions larger than dimensions of A-G;and

a receiving portion to receive any of A-G, wherein the receiving portionis located on the body portion to expose any of A-G for use in magneticcard reader transactions.

M. An apparatus comprising a body portion with dimensions compatiblewith a swallow-type magnetic card reader, wherein the body portionincludes a memory card compatible area to receive a memory card withmagnetic stripe functionality.M1. The apparatus of M further comprising a smartcard interface.M2. The apparatus of M further comprising at least one electricalcomponent coupled to the memory card compatible area portion tointerface to the memory card.M3. The apparatus of M wherein the memory card compatible area comprisesa recessed portion of at least one side of the apparatus.M4. The apparatus of M wherein memory card compatible area comprises atleast one metallic contact on a periphery of an aperture in theapparatus.N. A financial card to be used with a magnetic card reader at apoint-of-sale, the financial card including a memory card interface toallow the financial card to be inserted in a memory card slot of amobile phone, and including a stripe compatible with the magnetic cardreader, wherein the stripe is shorter than a magnetic credit cardstripe.O. A card compatible with a magnetic card reader and compatible with amemory slot in an intelligent electronic device, the card includingsoftware to be installed on the intelligent electronic device.O1. The card of O wherein the software includes a module for singletransaction account number generation.O2. The card of O1 wherein the software is configured to run on a mobilephone.O3. The card of O wherein the card comprises:

a memory slot compatible portion; and

a magnetic card reader compatible portion.

O4. The card of O3 wherein the magnetic card reader compatible portioncomprises circuitry to produce at least one time-varying magnetic fieldfor use in a financial transaction.P. A card comprising:

a memory card interface mechanically compatible with a memory card slotin an intelligent electronic device;

a processing device coupled to the memory card interface; and

circuitry to produce a time-varying magnetic field compatible with apoint-of-sale device.

Q. A card comprising:

a memory card interface electrically compatible with a memory card slotin an intelligent electronic device;

a processing device coupled to the memory card interface; and

circuitry to produce a time-varying magnetic field compatible with apoint-of-sale device.

Q1. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising nonvolatile memoryexposed through the memory card interface.

Q2. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising volatile memory to holdfinancial transaction information.Q3. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a software component thatwhen executed by the processing device causes the circuitry to produceat least one time-varying magnetic field representing the financialtransaction information.Q4. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a visible stripe at whichthe at least one time-varying magnetic field emanates.Q5. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a battery.Q6. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a capacitor to providepower to the card.Q7. The card of Q wherein the card has a size substantially equivalentto a credit card.R. A credit card sized adapter to receive any of the cards of P-Q.R1. The adapter of R wherein the credit card sized adapter includes asmartcard interface.R2. The adapter of R wherein the adapter includes a first edge having awidth and a second edge having a length, wherein the second edgeincludes a recessed portion to accept the card.R3. The adapter of R wherein the credit card sized adapter includes afirst edge having a width and a second edge having a length, wherein thefirst edge includes a recessed portion to accept the card.S. A combination financial card and memory card apparatus comprising:

electrical contacts to provide an interface to a mobile phone;

a transaction stripe to produce at least one time-varying magnetic fieldrepresenting transaction information;

a processing device; and

a software component to receive the transaction information from themobile phone;

wherein the electrical contacts are provided on a physical portion ofthe combination financial card and memory card apparatus havingdimensions compatible with a memory card slot.

S1. The combination financial card and memory card apparatus of Sfurther comprises an application software component to be installed onthe mobile phone.T. In combination:

a memory card having a transaction stripe compatible with a magneticcard reader; and

a credit card sized adapter to receive the memory card and to expose thetransaction stripe for use in magnetic card reader transactions.

U. In combination:

a memory card having an interface compatible with a memory card slot ina mobile phone and a smartcard interface; and

a credit card sized adapter to receive the memory card and to expose thesmartcard interface for use in smartcard transactions.

V. A financial transaction system comprising:

a mobile phone having a memory card slot;

a memory card compatible with the memory card slot, wherein the memorycard includes circuitry to transmit financial transaction data to apoint-of-sale device; and

a software component to produce single transaction account numbers foruse as financial transaction data.

W. A system comprising:

a wearable intelligent electronic device having a card slot; and

a card comprising a card slot interface and circuitry for producing atime-varying magnetic field compatible with a magnetic card reader.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction withcertain embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as those skilled in the art readily understand.Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scopeof the invention and the appended claims.

1. An apparatus comprising: a memory card slot interface; and smartcardcircuitry for producing at least one time-varying magnetic field.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising nonvolatile memory accessiblevia the memory card slot interface.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising software to be transferred to a device other than theapparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising nonvolatilememory accessible via the memory card slot interface.
 5. An apparatuscomprising: means for communicating through a memory card slot in anintelligent electronic device; smartcard circuitry for communicating atleast one time-varying magnetic field representing transaction data; andmeans for storing the transaction data.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5further including software to be installed on the intelligent electronicdevice.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising nonvolatilememory accessible via the memory card slot interface.
 8. An apparatuscomprising: a memory card slot interface; and circuitry including atleast one conductor for carrying current for producing a time-varyingmagnetic field.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprisingnonvolatile memory accessible via the memory card slot interface. 10.The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a processing device coupledto the memory card slot interface and the circuitry for producing atime-varying magnetic field.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 furthercomprising a software component that when executed by the processingdevice causes the circuitry to produce the time-varying magnetic field.12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising software to betransferred to a device other than the apparatus.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein the circuitry for producing the time-varying magneticfield comprises smartcard circuitry.
 14. A transaction systemcomprising: a mobile phone having a memory card slot; and a memory cardcompatible with the memory card slot, wherein the memory card includescircuitry to produce a time-varying magnetic field to transmittransaction data to a reader device.
 15. The transaction system of claim14 wherein the memory card includes software to be installed on themobile phone.
 16. The transaction system of claim 14 wherein thesoftware includes a module for single transaction account numbergeneration.
 17. The transaction system of claim 14 wherein the memorycard includes nonvolatile memory accessible through the memory cardslot.
 18. The transaction system of claim 14 wherein the memory cardincludes volatile memory accessible through the memory card slot. 19.The transaction system of claim 14 wherein the circuitry for producingthe time-varying magnetic field comprises smartcard circuitry.